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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3.4 42nd St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Preview STAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL Page 1 of 3 Agenda Item 3.4 DATE: March 3, 2026 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Colleen Tribby, City Manager SUBJECT: 42nd St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Preview Prepared by: Shelby Perry, Recreation Coordinator EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City Council will receive a presentation that previews the 42nd St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, which will be held on the weekend of March 13-15, 2026. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Receive the presentation. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Sufficient funding for the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration is included as part of the City’s annual operating budget. DESCRIPTION: The City of Dublin is holding its 42nd St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, scheduled for the weekend of March 13-15, 2026. This signature event includes the St. Patrick’s Day Festival, the Shamrock Gala, Pancake Breakfast, Parade, and Fun Run. A summary of activities is provided below. Shamrock Gala – Friday 6:00 p.m. The weekend begins on Friday evening with the Shamrock Gala, hosted by the Dublin Historical Society at the Shannon Community Center. This ticketed event is priced at $95 per person for non-members and $85 per member, with tickets available through the Dublin Historical Society’s website. The evening features dinner, dancing, and additional entertainment to kick off the St. Patrick’s Day weekend festivities. Firefighters Pancake Breakfast – Saturday 7:00 a.m. On Saturday morning, Fire Station No. 16, in partnership with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 55, will host the annual Firefighters Pancake Breakfast beginning at 7:00 a.m. The breakfast menu includes green pancakes, sausage, eggs, juice, and coffee. 16 Page 2 of 3 Rotary of Dublin Parade – Saturday 9:30 a.m. Later Saturday morning, the Rotary of Dublin will host the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The parade route starts at Dublin Boulevard and Amador Plaza Road, proceeds east on Dublin Boulevard, north on Village Parkway, and west on Amador Valley Boulevar d, concluding near the Dublin Senior Center. The parade is anticipated to include more than 60 entries, featuring local marching bands, floats, equestrian groups, bagpipers, and community organizations. St. Patrick’s Day Festival – Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The City of Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival will take place on March 14 and March 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Civic Center. The event offers a family-friendly celebration highlighting Irish music, dance, food, and drink. Festival programming includes three outdoor stages. The Dance Stage features Irish Step Dance performances throughout the day, while the Pub Stage presents a variety of Irish music styles, ranging from traditional folk to Celtic rock, and includes appearances by a roaming bagpiper and leprechaun. The Main Stage will host headlining bands such as Fast and Vengefully, Wild Thyme Lark, Tempest, and Cali Celtic, showcasing a mix of traditional and original Celtic-inspired music. An authentic Irish Tea Cottage will be held in the Civic Center courtyard, providing an open-air experience for guests. The Tea Cottage will also showcase new temporary art installations featuring hand-painted wine barrels. Attendees will receive a commemorative tea mug along with traditional Irish pastries and other packaged baked goods. Clover’s Courtyard is a new addition to the St. Patrick’s Day Festival and will serve as a designated, fenced area for adults 21 and over. Entry to Clover’s Courtyard will be limited to guests with a valid wristband provided by Rotary, and attendees must also have an official festival beer mug to enter. In coordination with Rotary, Staff will establish a dedicated line for patrons who wish to access Clover’s Courtyard, separate from the general beer and wine service lines. Within the courtyard, guests will have access to lawn games, cocktail tables for socializing, and a designated photo booth area, creating a relaxed and engaging space for adults during the event. The Irish Marketplace will feature vendors selling Irish tartan kilts, scarves, wraps, and capes, as well as Celtic jewelry, artwork, metalwork, tableware, pottery, and traditional Irish baked goods such as shortbread, scones, and cakes. More than 100 additional arts and crafts vendors will also participate. Carnival rides will be located in a section of the Dublin Sports Grounds parking lot. To address anticipated traffic and parking impacts, staff ha ve coordinated off-site parking for sponsors, volunteers, vendors, and the public at Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., located at 5300 Central Parkway. A free shuttle bus will operate on both event days. In addition, the City is partnering with BART and LAVTA to provide free bus service from both BART stations via the Wheels Rapid 30R route. Staff also works closely with nearby businesses, particularly those adjacent to the Civic Center, to request use of additional parking lots. All neighboring businesses will receive information on anticipated traffic and parking impacts. 17 Page 3 of 3 Cycling to the festival is also encouraged, and the City provides free, secure bike parking at a bike valet station. Fun Run – Sunday 8:30 a.m. The Shamrock 5K Fun Run and Walk takes place on Sunday morning, with the race ending at the Festival Dance Stage. Runners will enjoy a live DJ, refreshments, and other giveaways in the post-race area. To add to the festivities, some Festival vendors will open early to welcome runners at the finish line. The Shamrock 5K Fun Run is expected to attract more than 2,200 participants. STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE: None. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: The City Council Agenda was posted. ATTACHMENTS: None. 18 Preview of the 2026 St. Patrick’s Day Celebration March 3, 2026 19 Shamrock Gala Friday, March 13 –6:00 p.m. 20 Firefighter’s Pancake Breakfast Saturday, March 14 –7:00 a.m. 21 Rotary of Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Parade Saturday, March 14 –9:30 a.m. 22 27th Shamrock 5k Fun Run & Walk Sunday, March 15 –8:30 a.m. 23 42nd St. Patrick’s Day Festival March 14 –15 –10:00 a.m. –5:00 p.m. 24 Pub & Main Stage 25 Tea Cottage & Irish Dance Stage 26 Carnival & Children’s Activities 27 Vendors & Food Court 28 Sponsors 29 Thank you! Questions & Feedback 30